But if the airport is going to continue to be "an economic engine," as Wales calls it, airport maintenance problems will have to be addressed. And paying for repairs and upgrades is expensive.
"Like most general aviation airports, money is tight," Wales said
Day-to-day operations of the airport are paid for with revenues generated at the airport, such as land leases and fuel fees. Dollars from the Federal Aviation Administration pay for the majority of big, capital projects. The city, however, still must come up with a 10 percent local match through grants or savings.
The city that has one half-starved library and one nearly gutted one less than a mile away, and that has no transit service at all on weekends and limited service weekdays -- that same city pours millions into subsidizing the airport for the 1% to enjoy, but not pay for.
In other words, this property doesn't generate tax revenue at all, it consumes it, both local and federal -- all so the 1% can enjoy the amenities, including the millions squandered on baggage handling facilities after there was no baggage to handle.
Some "economic engine."
Time to put out a request for bids--get the airport off welfare, put it to work: sell the operation to a private investor, let them operate it, setting the rates, and paying taxes. The businesses out there can form a company to be the buyer and can make all the improvements they want.
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